Longest Active Playoff Droughts for NFL Teams (and Their Odds to Make It This Year)
For every NFL team, winning the Super Bowl is the goal year after year.
Of course, some teams are more Super Bowl ready than others, and some teams find themselves in the midst of a playoff appearance drought.
Which squads haven't reached the postseason in a while -- and what are their NFL playoff odds this season, according to FanDuel Sportsbook?
Current NFL Playoff Droughts
Here's a list of each team's current NFL playoff drought (number of seasons) and their odds to make the playoffs this season.
Team | Playoff Drought | To Make the Playoffs |
---|---|---|
New York Jets | 13 | -172 |
Denver Broncos | 8 | +760 |
Atlanta Falcons | 6 | -188 |
Carolina Panthers | 6 | +490 |
Chicago Bears | 3 | -108 |
Indianapolis Colts | 3 | +140 |
New Orleans Saints | 3 | +184 |
Longest NFL Playoff Droughts
New York Jets
No team quite compares to the New York Jets' 13-season NFL playoff drought.
Their last playoff appearance was in 2010, during which they lost the AFC Championship game 24-19 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That was their second-straight AFC Championship loss (they fell 30-17 to the Indianapolis Colts the year prior).
This season, the Jets' win total and playoff odds put them into position to end the 13-year drought.
Denver Broncos
If not for the Jets, the Denver Broncos would probably be getting more heat for not reaching the postseason for nearly a decade.
With that said, they had quite the run from 2011 to 2015 with five straight playoff appearances and a 1-1 Super Bowl record.
Denver last reached the postseason in 2015, when they won the Super Bowl 24-10 over the Carolina Panthers.
While the Jets are in position to end their streak, the Broncos' odds to make the playoffs rank them 31st in the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Next up on the list is a pair of NFC South teams that haven't reach the postseason in half a dozen years.
In 2017, the NFC South sent three teams to the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers finished second in the division but lost 31-26 to the New Orleans Saints, who won the NFC South.
The Atlanta Falcons also clinched the playoffs in 2017 with a 10-6 record. They followed up their crushing Super Bowl loss with a divisional round departure.
Atlanta is favored to win the NFC South this season.
Looking for the latest NFL odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NFL betting options.
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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.